Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) introduced a joint legislation that proposes a constitutional amendment for congressional term limits.
Under the amendment, U.S. senators would be limited to two six-year terms, while members of the House of Representatives would be limited to three two-year terms. The amendment would take effect “within seven years after the date of its submission by the Congress.”
Sens. Mike Lee (R-UT), Rick Scott (R-FL), Rand Paul (R-KY), Todd Young (R-IN), Steve Daines (R-MT), Cynthia Lummis (R-WY), Bill Hagerty (R-TN), Eric Schmitt (R-MO), Roger Marshall (R-KS), Katie Britt (R-AL), and Jim Banks (R-IN) co-sponsored the joint resolution.
“Term limits are critical to fixing what’s wrong with Washington, D.C.,” Cruz said. “The Founding Fathers envisioned a government of citizen legislators who would serve for a few years and return home, not a government run by a small group of special interests and lifelong, permanently entrenched politicians who prey upon the brokenness of Washington to govern in a manner that is totally unaccountable to the American people. Term limits bring about long-overdue accountability. I urge my colleagues to advance this amendment to the states so that it may be quickly ratified and become a constitutional amendment.”
Rep. Ralph Norman (R-SC) introduced the companion legislation in the House.
“Elected office should represent a short-term privilege of public service, not a career choice,” he said. “Those of us in Congress ought to serve for a reasonable period of time and then return home to live under the laws we enacted.”
“That’s why I’ve proposed a constitutional amendment to establish term limits in the legislative branch, and I am honored that Sen. Cruz has introduced a companion bill over in the Senate,” Norman continued. “This effort will go a long way to positively impact American politics, and I appreciate Sen. Cruz’s leadership on this important issue.”
